Aimless h.s.

Chapter 13

Abby

The lunch shift was brutal on Sundays.

At exactly12:05pm, the floodgates opened and every table in the dining room had become full with a wait at the door.

I had wondered why I hadn't been put on the lunch shift for Sunday before now. This explained it. This was 'pros only'. I leaned against the wall in the kitchen and pushed the fallen hair out of my face. Somehow we'd survived. The last table was just finishing up and paying their tab.

"The only good thing about Sundays is the tips. I swear I'm gonna quit every week when it's over. Then I count my money," Danny said with a wink and pulled out the roll of money he had tucked in his pocket.

"That was crazy," I agreed.

Danny chuckled. "Yep. Good thing is, it's over. You can go home."

Home. Aiden's condo wasn't my home. And today I wasn't sure I was staying there any longer. I hoped my tips were really good because I might need to pack up and hit the road.

Aiden had called last night to let me know he was headed home to visit. I didn't know if that meant he wanted me to move out now. Or if he was expecting us to share the place.

I had bad dreams and many nights I woke myself up screaming. Sharing his apartment with Aiden didn't sound like the best idea. But leaving London didn't sound appealing either. I liked it here. I liked El and Danny and I liked... Harry.

"Girl stop frowning. It's quitting time," Danny said in a teasing voice as he walked by me and tossed his apron into the dirty basket.

I managed a smile and nodded.

"I think I need a nap," I replied and took off my apron too. I wouldn't be getting a nap. There was a good chance that Aiden would be there when I got back. If not he would be later today.

"I got a hot date. No time for sleeping. See you tomorrow morning," Danny called out as he left the kitchen.

I followed him. Once I was outside the clubhouse, I pulled my hair out of the bun I'd twisted it up into and let it hang free. It was giving me a headache. I wasn't used to having my hair pulled back so tightly.

The sound of a car door slamming caught my attention and I turned around to see Harry's black Range Rover parked in his reserved space. His fiancée was stalking around the back of the car with fire in her eyes.

"Just one meal, Harry. Really? You can't play nice for one goddamn meal? What is wrong with you? Am I that abhorrent to you that you can't even be civil to me in front of our parents?" Her loud shrill voice carried across the parking lot. This was not my business and I needed to get in the car and leave. But I couldn't. My eyes were locked on Harry as he stepped out of the truck. He looked annoyed.

"You got what you wanted. You, and our fathers, won. I caved in and agreed to this. But I don't want it. I will never want it." The bored tone in his voice was almost too low for me to hear. If I hadn't been so focused on him I might not have heard his hard reply.

"Really? Well, then you don't have to have it. Because as much as I want this thing between us to work and as much as I want a husband who will be an asset to the Blackburn name, I do not want to live with a man who hates me. I can do better than that. I'm a fantastic catch, Harry Styles. I don't need you," she spat out. Her body was trembling with anger.

I felt sorry for her. She was right. No woman in the world deserved this. The unmoved expression in his eyes looked annoyed if anything.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I've just had a lot on my mind today. I shouldn't have acted the way I did at lunch. My dad pushes my buttons the way no one else can. What I said and how I acted was not because of you but because of him."